Brownfields Tax Incentive
On October 3, 2008, H.R. 1424 was signed into law by the President. Section 318 of the bill provides for expensing of environmental remediation costs extending the current brownfield tax incentive till December 31, 2009, and is effective for expenditures paid or incurred after December 31, 2007. The tax incentive allows taxpayers to receive a current federal income tax deduction for certain qualifying remediation costs that would otherwise by subject to capitalization. The extension is a timely benefit for companies seeking to acquire or dispose of environmentally impaired properties

EPA Funds New Round of Brownfields Training, Research and Technical Assistance Grants
EPA is providing $1.5 million of funding for new Brownfields Training, Research, and Technical Assistance Grants. This money will provide information, training, tools, and technical assistance to brownfields stakeholders.

Final FY2009 Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund and Cleanup Grant Guidelines
These grants may be used to address sites contaminated by petroleum and hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants (including hazardous substances co-mingled with petroleum). Opportunities for funding are as follows: Brownfields Assessment Grants (each funded up to $200,000 over three years), Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grants (each funded up to $1,000,000 over five years) and Brownfields Cleanup Grants (each funded up to $200,000 over three years). The proposal deadline is November 14, 2008.

Fiscal Year 2009 Brownfields Job Training Grants - Request for Applications Issued
This notice announces the availability of funds and solicits applications from eligible entities and non-profit organizations to provide environmental job training projects focused on brownfields assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment activities. The objective of the Brownfields Job Training Grant Program is to recruit, train, and place unemployed and under-employed individuals from brownfields-impacted communities in full-time sustainable environmental employment. Applications must be postmarked by October 15, 2008 5:00 pm.

Brownfields Sustainability Pilots
EPA is providing technical assistance for the sustainable assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment of community brownfields projects. Assistance will support activities such as the reuse and recycling of construction and demolition materials, green building and infrastructure design, energy efficiency, water conservation, renewable energy development, and native landscaping.

More than $6.3 Million Goes to Revitalizing Properties Through Supplemental Grant Funding
Sixteen state or local governments are receiving supplemental funding for their Brownfields revolving loan fund grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This funding will enable state, local and tribal governments to make more loans and subgrants that fund cleanup at brownfields sites.

Request for Applications for Brownfields 2009-2013 Annual Conference Primary Non-federal Co-sponsor
EPA has announced the availability of funds and is soliciting proposals from eligible entities (as defined at Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) 104(k)(1)) and non-profit organizations for financial assistance to assist non-federal personnel (states, tribes, local governments, non-profits, industry and community groups) in participating in three national Brownfields conferences to be planned and held over a five-year period, beginning in 2009. The Brownfields conferences provide training, research and technical assistance to communities to facilitate the inventory of brownfield sites, site assessments and remediation of brownfield sites, community involvement, and site preparation. The successful applicant will be the primary non-federal co-sponsor for the conference and EPA will be the primary federal co-sponsor.

Communities in 43 states, 2 Tribal Nations and 2 territories will share over $74 million in EPA Brownfields grants
These communities will share over $74 million in EPA Brownfields grants to help revitalize former industrial and commercial sites, turning them from problem properties to productive community use. Since the beginning of the Brownfields program, EPA has awarded 1255 assessment grants totaling $298.6 million, 230 revolving loan fund grants totaling $217.7 million, and 426 cleanup grants totaling $78.7 million.

Upcoming related events include the following:

2008 Oklahoma Brownfields Conference - December 2-3, 2008, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Come explore the environmental, economical, and social benefits of Brownfields redevelopment; learn up-to-date information about technical and regulatory considerations and financial incentives; and hear Brownfields success stories in Oklahoma. Brownfields’ resources such as financial incentives and liability protection can be very important economic development tools for local governments, regional planning agencies, nonprofits, and the private sector. Meet many key public and private sector leaders and experience one of Oklahoma City’s greatest Brownfields successes, the Skirvin Hilton Hotel.

Brownfields: The Next Generation - January 15, 2009, in Sacramento, California
Brownfields: The Next Generation is the place to develop a comprehensive understanding of new policies and best practices for green-on-brown redevelopment in California. Play an integral role in shaping the most progressive strategies in the industry. Discover how industry leaders are changing the way they incorporate sustainable development into their daily practices by connecting green building to brownfield sites.

The 8th Annual New Partners for Smart Growth: Building Safe, Healthy and Livable Communities Conference - January 22-24, 2009, in Albuquerque, New Mexico
The New Partners for Smart Growth Conference has grown significantly since it began several years ago — increasing in scope, attendance, and prestige — and is now considered to be the "premier" smart growth conference held each year. The strength of this conference comes from the variety of participants and speakers who cross disciplines to share experiences and insights, and valuable tools and strategies to encourage smart growth implementation and "get it done." Planning for the 8th annual conference comes on the heels of a hugely successful conference held in our nation’s capitol in February ‘08. The 2009 conference will highlight the latest in smart growth — the latest research, cutting-edge implementation tools and techniques, best practices, model projects, policies and codes, coordinated networking activities, interactive learning experiences, and new partners. Most importantly, this dynamic event offers you the opportunity to network and coordinate with your peers as well as practitioners from many different disciplines.

13th National Brownfields Conference - November 16-18, 2009, in New Orleans, Louisiana
The Environmental Protection Agency announces the 13th National Brownfields Conference to be held on November 16-18, 2009 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The conference will provide a forum for training, research and technical assistance to communities to facilitate the inventory of brownfield sites, assessment and remediation of brownfields sites, community involvement, and the green and sustainable revitalization of brownfields and contaminated sites. More information will be provided in the weeks ahead.